put the damper on (something)

put the damper on (something)

To discourage or deter something; to make something less enjoyable, pleasant, or fun; to extinguish or lessen people's enthusiasm for something. (A less common variant of "put a damper on something.") The foul weather really put the damper on our picnic yesterday. Without question, this tax scandal has put the damper on the senator's likelihood of being re-elected. CDs quickly became the dominant format for music, but when digital formats arrived soon thereafter, it put the damper on CD sales just as quickly.
See also: damper, on, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • a slue of (something)
  • a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • all right
  • (you) wanna make something of it?
  • all for the best
  • a thing of the past